Homemade laundry scent booster is all natural, helps remove odors and softens your laundry.
This non-toxic alternative to commercial fragrance boosters is scented with your favorite essential oils.
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What You Need To Make natural scent booster for laundry:
supplies
- Salt – Epsom salt is commonly used, but kosher salt or rock salt (the type used for making ice cream) work well too.
- Baking Soda – A gentle yet effective cleaner and deodorizer that lifts dirt and neutralizes odors.
- Essential Oils – Use any favorite essential oils. Oils with cleaning and freshening properties enhance the booster’s effect.
- Glass Jar – This recipe yields about one quart. Double the recipe for a half-gallon jar.
If you have hard water and are concerned about long-term effects on your washer, choose kosher or rock salt instead of Epsom salt.
How To Make natural scent booster for laundry:
Combine – In a mason jar, combine the baking soda and chosen salt. Add about 50 drops of essential oils.
Mix – Stir until the oils are evenly dispersed. Seal with a lid and it’s ready to use.
Tips For Success:
To Use – Add about 1/4 cup of scent booster on top of the laundry after loading the washer. Wash as usual. This batch makes roughly 16 loads.
To Store – Store in a sealed container to preserve scent. Properly sealed, the mixture stays effective for years.
Variations – Any coarse salt works: Epsom, kosher, or rock salt. If you have hard water, avoid Epsom salt to be cautious.
Substitutions – Any essential oil or blend works. Customize with your favorite scents.
about This DIY Scent Booster For Laundry:
all natural ingredients
Many store-bought laundry boosters contain synthetic fragrances and additives that can irritate skin or trigger allergies. A homemade scent booster uses simple, natural ingredients—baking soda, salt, and essential oils—so you can avoid those additives while still getting fresh-smelling laundry.
easy to make
This DIY recipe is quick: combine ingredients, stir, and use. It requires minimal prep and no special equipment.
super cheap
The recipe uses just a few inexpensive pantry items. Buying salt and baking soda in bulk keeps costs low. Essential oils are a larger upfront cost but you only need about 50 drops for a full batch, so cost per use remains small.
Even including essential oils, homemade boosters are typically much cheaper than store-bought natural fragrance boosters.
doubles as a laundry softener and stain helper
Coarse salt can help soften fabrics in a way similar to water softener salts. Salt and baking soda also assist in brightening whites and reducing color transfer, which can help lift light stains.
Salt and baking soda both help brighten laundry and reduce mustiness, so this booster provides more than just fragrance.
safe to use in your washing machine
These ingredients are safe for standard and HE machines. If you have hard water and are concerned about Epsom salt buildup over time, choose kosher or rock salt instead.
can be made in bulk
None of the main ingredients expire quickly, so you can make larger batches to save time. Keep the container sealed to preserve essential oil potency.
easy to customize
Customize the scent by mixing different essential oils. Try new blends until you find a signature fragrance for your laundry.
FAQ About this DIY natural scent booster for laundry:
what is scent booster for laundry?
A scent booster adds a lasting fresh fragrance to laundry. In this DIY version, baking soda also acts as a natural deodorizer to help neutralize odors.
what does salt do in laundry?
Salt brightens whites, helps protect colors from bleeding, and can act similarly to a fabric softener when used in coarse form.
does baking soda work for scent control?
Yes. Baking soda neutralizes odors and helps lift dirt from fabric fibers, keeping garments smelling fresher longer.
is it safe to put essential oils in the washing machine?
Essential oils are safe for both regular and HE machines when used in small amounts as in this recipe. Always test a small batch if you have delicate fabrics or sensitive skin.
laundry essential oil blend recipes:
so clean
sweet orange + eucalyptus + lime
happy home
orange + lemon + clove
beachy breezes
eucalyptus + rosemary + tea tree
citrus fresh
orange + lime + bergamot
bright and cheery
geranium + tangerine + eucalyptus
fresh linens
eucalyptus + lavender + lemon
Try different blends to find what you like best.
More Homemade Natural Cleaning Products On The Blog:
If you liked this post, you may enjoy other natural DIY cleaning recipes.
- Thieves Multi Purpose Cleaner From Scratch
- Homemade Hardwood Floor Cleaner
- DIY Laundry Stain Remover Spray
- Homemade Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tablets
- DIY Leather Cleaner
I hope you enjoy this recipe for non-toxic homemade laundry scent booster! If you try it, please come back and leave a comment and rating so I know how it worked for you.
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Natural Laundry Scent Booster
1 quart
5 minutes
5 minutes
Ingredients
- 3 cups kosher salt, Epsom salt, or rock salt.
- 1 cup baking soda
- 50 drops essential oils
Instructions
- In a mason jar, combine the baking soda and salt. Add essential oils.
- Stir until the oils are evenly dispersed. Seal with a lid and it’s ready to use.
Notes
To Use – After loading your washer, sprinkle 1/4 cup of booster on top of the laundry and launder as usual.
To Store – Keep sealed; the mixture remains effective for years when stored properly.
Variations – Use Epsom, kosher, or rock salt. If you have hard water, consider kosher or rock salt instead of Epsom.
Substitutions – Any essential oil or blend will work; choose scents you enjoy.